Joshua James is an American singer-songwriter currently based out of Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Joshua James is an American singer-songwriter currently based out of American Fork, Utah and Lincoln, Nebraska.
On his second album, Build Me This, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed The Sun is Always Brighter, produced by industry veteran Shannon Edgar, James expands his musical palette to foreboding doom-laden hard rock. Progressing from folkish harmonies, to country twang, world beats and southern home rock while further exploring themes of spiritual searching and heartbreaking loss. Possessing a whispery and intimate vocal style that works its way into the ear peacefully and directly, Joshua James is pitched midway between seminal influences like Bob Dylan and Neil Young.
“I find solace and beauty in darkness and depression,” admits James, who grew up in his native Lincoln, Nebraska, skateboarding and sneaking listens to music his parents banned, like classic rockers Jim Morrison and The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, “But there are contrasts to everything. You have to combine the sweet and salty, the ugly and beautiful. Music is very therapeutic for me. It’s all about making a connection with humanity, with the audience, in ways that I normally wouldn’t be able to.”
Over the past three years, James has been doing just that. His debut was the #1 Folk Album on iTunes, and “FM Radio,” a song about a childhood friend coping with the death of his father, amassed more than 150,000 downloads as part of an iTunes promotion. In addition to performances at Sundance, SXSW and CMJ, James has toured with John Mayer, David Gray and Ani DiFranco, winning legions of fans along the way. His new album, Build Me This, has already attracted major–label interest. “I feel strongly about the things I sing about,” nods Joshua. “I want people to know how I feel, which sounds kind of dumb, because who cares how I feel? If someone feels similarly, though, that’s what I’m looking for. That’s the most important thing. If
you can relate to what I’m going through, then I’ve achieved my goal.”
The album title, Build Me This, refers to his dream of salvation. “It’s my way of asking God to show himself,” declares James. “To prove he exists. Do something. Give me a sign. It’s a call to whatever or whoever is out there. I don’t want him to strike me down or paralyze me, just give me something to believe.”
Aside from the spiritual, Build Me This is also about the difficulties of everyday relationships, the inadvertent hurt we cause to those we love. “Magazine” deals with the pain of separation (“Go take your bags to New York City, call me when your plane arrives/I’ll feed the children, wash the dishes, I’ll keep the house lookin’ nice/Well don’t you worry, everything’s gonna be all right.”), while “In the Middle” laments a shattered romance (“You’ve tried so hard to forget me/You burnt the letters I’d made/Though my memory has been dyin’/I hope the feeling still remains”).
On the stage, though, is where Joshua James’ music comes alive and reveals its true intent, which is about drawing people into his insular universe, a sense of mystic that only the truly great ones can communicate.
“Perhaps the darkness comes out a little more often that I’d like,” he offers “but that’s just where I gravitate to when I’m writing. I don’t usually try to tackle specific subjects; it’s usually about what I’m feeling at the time. Things start to come out, then they form a story and a reason, and that’s how things evolve. I’m influenced by everything… by life, by love, by hate, by music.”
On his second album, Build Me This, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed The Sun is Always Brighter, produced by industry veteran Shannon Edgar, James expands his musical palette to foreboding doom-laden hard rock. Progressing from folkish harmonies, to country twang, world beats and southern home rock while further exploring themes of spiritual searching and heartbreaking loss. Possessing a whispery and intimate vocal style that works its way into the ear peacefully and directly, Joshua James is pitched midway between seminal influences like Bob Dylan and Neil Young.
“I find solace and beauty in darkness and depression,” admits James, who grew up in his native Lincoln, Nebraska, skateboarding and sneaking listens to music his parents banned, like classic rockers Jim Morrison and The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd, “But there are contrasts to everything. You have to combine the sweet and salty, the ugly and beautiful. Music is very therapeutic for me. It’s all about making a connection with humanity, with the audience, in ways that I normally wouldn’t be able to.”
Over the past three years, James has been doing just that. His debut was the #1 Folk Album on iTunes, and “FM Radio,” a song about a childhood friend coping with the death of his father, amassed more than 150,000 downloads as part of an iTunes promotion. In addition to performances at Sundance, SXSW and CMJ, James has toured with John Mayer, David Gray and Ani DiFranco, winning legions of fans along the way. His new album, Build Me This, has already attracted major–label interest. “I feel strongly about the things I sing about,” nods Joshua. “I want people to know how I feel, which sounds kind of dumb, because who cares how I feel? If someone feels similarly, though, that’s what I’m looking for. That’s the most important thing. If
you can relate to what I’m going through, then I’ve achieved my goal.”
The album title, Build Me This, refers to his dream of salvation. “It’s my way of asking God to show himself,” declares James. “To prove he exists. Do something. Give me a sign. It’s a call to whatever or whoever is out there. I don’t want him to strike me down or paralyze me, just give me something to believe.”
Aside from the spiritual, Build Me This is also about the difficulties of everyday relationships, the inadvertent hurt we cause to those we love. “Magazine” deals with the pain of separation (“Go take your bags to New York City, call me when your plane arrives/I’ll feed the children, wash the dishes, I’ll keep the house lookin’ nice/Well don’t you worry, everything’s gonna be all right.”), while “In the Middle” laments a shattered romance (“You’ve tried so hard to forget me/You burnt the letters I’d made/Though my memory has been dyin’/I hope the feeling still remains”).
On the stage, though, is where Joshua James’ music comes alive and reveals its true intent, which is about drawing people into his insular universe, a sense of mystic that only the truly great ones can communicate.
“Perhaps the darkness comes out a little more often that I’d like,” he offers “but that’s just where I gravitate to when I’m writing. I don’t usually try to tackle specific subjects; it’s usually about what I’m feeling at the time. Things start to come out, then they form a story and a reason, and that’s how things evolve. I’m influenced by everything… by life, by love, by hate, by music.”
Willamette Mtn
Joshua James Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Joshua James:
Abbie Martin Do you remember When time wasn't an issue at all It was…
Annabelle I sold my ships away for a dime that I…
Baby Blue Sedan A nice heart and a white suit and a baby…
Benediction Busted wire and the tattered tongue Songs she wrote but she…
Beware! Well I lived in that town 'til I was 17 When…
Black July I will miss the sunshine. I will miss the moon. I…
Broke Broke accounts, hell I broke a sweat. Bought some things I…
Cheyenne Wyoming Cheyenne, Wyoming the night that the baby was born the mud f…
Coal War I ain't cutting my hair till the good lord comes I…
Commodore Commodore, commodore, commodore Well, save yourself, the cel…
Cowboys and Indians Well let the indians ride and the cowboys drink Let 'em…
Crash This Train I hope you find what you're looking for When it all…
Crash This Train (Acoustic) I hope you find what you're lookin for when it…
Dangerous The TV?s blaring, the radio is turned up loud Maybe then…
Daniel Come on down from that tree, little Daniel Come on down,…
Dear Darcy Well, Dear Darcy, How do I even start? These plain and bro…
Doctor Oh Doctor Doctor, Oh Doctor please bring me my wine All the nights…
Doctor, Oh Doctor Doctor, Oh Doctor please bring me my wine All the nights…
Dramamine Travelling, swallowing Dramamine feeling spaced, breathing …
Feel the Same Well I got a new letter in the mail today. After…
FM Radio I heard about, I heard about your daddy got sick Drove…
Geese All the leaves turn green in the summer All the roses…
Ghost in the Town Dearest Emma, there's a ghost in the town A ghost in…
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay Remembe…
In the Middle Cup of cold black coffee On the right side of the…
Lives I wasted so much time Trying to do this thing all…
Lord Devil and Him I guess that's it, Giving up, giving in I seem to…
Lovers without Love This road has over taught me lessons About my lonely…
Magazine Our separation seems forever, I'll do it if it's what…
Mother Mary I've walked half of this country to get to this…
My Confessionary Hymn I ain't no super boy I ain't no yankee son I ain't…
Mystic There is a mystic in the mountain high above the…
O Come O Come Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mo…
Our Brother Apologies never sounded insincere than when calling up a mot…
Pitchfork I must admit that when the TV set broke I started…
Queen of the City If I wrote it in your letter then it don't…
Ribbon Bows A pretty picture of your older sister that I will…
She Thought it came outta nothing I don’t know The sky opened up…
Sister So long, be careful on your way back home, I…
So Did I Just the power of indecision, You're riddled with shame. If …
Soul & The Sea I dream of dusty roads Paved with gold that lead me…
Surrender I was young, times were tough And they said it makes…
Tell My Pa Come on love, come on drugs I need the help, pick…
The Garden t's late July, crowds roll by your town. Your garden is…
The New Love Song So you say you want a love song One to move…
To Be Alone With You I'd swim across Lake Michigan I'd sell my shoes I'd give my…
Today Another day it's all the same Another way to make it…
Weeds Didn't anyone mention? Didn't anyone mention hate is all we…
Willamette Mountain Just the power of indecision, You're riddled with shame. I…
Wilted Daisies Pretty, pretty wilted daisies all in a row On the top…
Winter Storm Pain, don't go You remind me of a winter storm Faith, don'…
Wolves Well it's a perfect situation For anyone in question The lo…
You're the Cocaine Well I broke, I wrote a song About our love, and…
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